Hinkley Point C is 100 Per Cent GO

We're definitely going to get a new nuclear power station, despite what some people say about wind turbines and solar panels maybe being enough to keep the smartbulbs of the future on and connected to the Wi-Fi. The government has stamped through the final approvals needed to get the French and the Chinese in to show us how it's done and build Hinkley Point C.

The agreement is based upon new terms with EDF according to the government's business and energy department, which says some "significant new safeguards for future foreign investment" have also been introduced. These appear to include the ability for the government to stop French utility firm EDF selling its share of the project for a quick buck both during and after construction, with The Office for Nuclear Regulation no less needing to be notified of any potential full or part change in ownership.

Presumably this is to stop the Chinese stepping in and buying the whole lot, then, should WWIII break out because of Korea, Donald Trump and a battle for control of Foxconn, shutting it down so our weapons factories are all brought offline. Or maybe we're reading too much into it.

Greg Clark, the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, said: "Having thoroughly reviewed the proposal for Hinkley Point C, we will introduce a series of measures to enhance security and will ensure Hinkley cannot change hands without the Government’s agreement. Consequently, we have decided to proceed with the first new nuclear power station for a generation."

He didn't say if the cost is still around the £18bn mark, presumably because it's still ticking up by a few million per second so is tough to nail down. [GOV]